An account of the Slough of Despond.

Sir, said Christian, I was bid go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come; and as I was going thither I fell in here.

HELP. But why did you not look for the steps?

Ps. 40. 2.
Isa. 35.

CHR. Fear followed me so hard that I fled the next way, and fell in. Then said he, Give me thy hand. So he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him on sound ground, and let him go on his way.

3, 4.

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the city of Destruction to yonder gate, is it, that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more security? And he said to me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended. It is the descent whither the scum and filth that attend conviction of sin do continually run, and therefore it is called the slough of Despond: for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there arise in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place; and this is the reason of the badness of this ground. It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad. His labourers also have, by the directions of his Majesty's surveyors, been for above these sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might be mended; yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand cartloads, yea, millions of wholesome instructions,

and not being patient of the Pilgrimage, re- | he began to sink? Hence the Psalmist, after turns to Destruction; while CHRISTIAN, with his deliverance, thus tells of the mercy of the earnest struggles to be free, still "looks to the Lord: "I waited patiently for the Lord; and hills, from whence cometh his help." he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord” (Ps. xl. 1—3).

Whose name was Help. When man has done his best, and yet that best is nothing, then comes HELP. This kind messenger is CHRIST. He reproves the Pilgrim that he had not looked for "the steps." And CHRISTIAN answers that "fear followed" him, and thus he missed the steps. These stepping-stones are the promises of God in Christ. Now "fear" never yet brought a man to the promises; it only drives us from them, so that we lose the way.

Give me thy hand.—Such is the real help that Christ gives the Christian. "His own arm brought salvation." What would have been the condition of any of us had not the hand of the Lord upheld us, as he upheld the affrighted Peter, when his faith failed him, and

Then I stepped to him.-Here the Dreamer takes part in his own vision; that such a swamp as this should be permitted to exist is to him a marvel, and he seeks the interpretation thereof. This, it appears, is the low level of spiritual experience, into which flows the drainage of conviction of sin. Into this Despond most men fall; some to go thence on their Pilgrimage wiser and better men; others, to turn back, and walk no more with Jesus,

that have at all seasons been brought from all places of the King's dominions (and they that can tell, say, that they are the best materials to make good ground of the place, if so be it might be mended); but it is the slough of Despond still, and so will be when they have done what they can. True, there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and substantial steps placed even through the very midst of this slough: but, at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside, and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got in at the Gate.

1 Sam. 12. 22.

Now I saw in my dream that by this time Pliable was got home to his house. So his neighbours came to visit him; and some of them called him wise man for coming back; and some called him fool for hazarding himself with Christian: others, again, did mock at his cowardliness, saying, Surely, since you began to venture, I would not have been so base as to have given out for a few difficulties. So Pliable sat sneaking among them. But at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride poor Christian behind his back. And thus much concerning Pliable.

sufficient to satisfy its hungry appetite for souls, that sometimes through it go down quick into hell. Instructors, teachers, preachers, guides, missionaries, martyrs, Bibles, churches, all have failed to take effect; the whole work

Some men whose minds are well instructed | yet. The whole aggregate influence of the in Divine truth, and whose faith in "present Christian Church and Christian men is inhelp" is lively, do not sink very deeply into this "horrible pit ;" while others, whose faith is weak, are almost overwhelmed, and remain for a considerable time with little or no hope. This latter class of persons are commonly those who have gone great lengths in sin, or whose habiting power of Christendom has not succeeded it is to brood continually over the evil which they find within their own hearts, instead of looking out of themselves to the Saviour, and resting upon those precious words of invitation and encouragement which he addresses to sin

ners.

in throwing across this swamp a beaten highway for the Christian to the City of the King. It is only by believing faith in the work of Christ, that this Slough can be safely overpast. "Seek, and ye shall find."

Thus much concerning Pliable.-Such is the career of the unstable professor-weak, impulsive, and vacillating. He sets out with buoyant spirits, and so long as the way is easy and pleasant, he pursues it with alacrity; but when trouble arises and difficulties meet him, he turns aside from Him who alone can help, and following his own devices, falls into a condition of spiritual apathy, which renders his case even less hopeful than it was

There is a humility which partakes largely of unbelief, and which, therefore, cannot be a frame of mind pleasing in the sight of God. And this Slough of Despond continues to the present day, notwithstanding all the efforts that are put forth to mend it, the downfall of many hopeful ones, a grievous snare to many of the Pilgrims of the heavenly way at the commencement of their Christian career. Two hundred years have passed since Bunyan sounded its depths, and it is not mended before.

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Jesus. In the end, the folly of such a course is made manifest in the thunders, and lightnings, and threatenings of the dark and lowering Mount of Sinai. St. Paul asks such persons this solemn question-"Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?" Gal. iv. 21. A plain answer to this question is contained in the following scene of the Pilgrim's Progress.

PS Christian was now walking solitarily by himself, he espied one afar off come crossing over the field to meet him, and their hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name was Mr. Worldly-wiseman; he dwelt in the town. of Carnal-policy, a very great town, and also hard by from whence Christian came. This man then meet

ing with Christian, and having some inkling of him, for Christian's setting forth from the City of Destruction was much noised abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the town-talk in some other places: Master Worldly-wiseman, therefore, having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, by observing his sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk with Christian.

WOR. How now, good fellow; whither away after this burdened manner?

CHR. A burdened manner indeed, as ever I think poor creature had! And whereas you ask me, Whither away? I tell you, Sir, I

those that seek to justify themselves. Their wisdom is but worldly wisdom, and this shall be outwitted at the last, and utterly turned into foolishness. They that are "wise after the flesh" are not "wise unto God."

Walking solitarily.-PLIABLE has departed | own righteousness, refusing the saving righthome again. HELP, having lifted the Pilgrim eousness of Jesus. This man is of the world, from the mire, has also departed, and CHRISTIAN carnally-minded, legally disposed; he is of is left alone. A Christian "walking solitarily" is sometimes a mark for temptation; while, if he would walk in company with a fellow-Christian, he would probably escape the temptation. The tempter ofttimes selects our lonely moments for his fiercest assaults. When alone, the Christian may be weak: in company with brother Christians, he may be very strong. This was evidently a weak moment to our Pilgrim-an opportunity for the assault of the evil one.

Mr. Worldly-wiseman.-The name is intended to indicate the nature of the man; as the name of his town, Carnal-policy, to illustrate his origin and associations. This is the man that walks by sight, and not by faith; talks presumptuously of human merit, ignoring the merits of Christ; clothes himself in his

Having some guess of him.-There were certain marks and characteristics by which CHRISTIAN was recognised by WORLDLYWISEMAN-"by beholding his laborious going, and by observing his sighs and groans." Now these marks form the direct contrast to the spirit of the worldly-wise man. He evidences no "laborious going;" his walk is an easygoing career. If hardships should arise, and "sighs and groans" come at seasons, these troubles rise not from the depths of conscience, but only play upon the outer surface of external circumstances. He cannot, therefore,

Worldly-wiseman questions Christian.

am going to yonder Wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put in a way to be rid of my heavy burden.

WOR. Hast thou a wife and children?

CHR. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleasure in them as formerly: methinks I am as if I had none.

WOR. Wilt thou hearken to me, if I give thee counsel ?

I Cor. 7. 29.

CHR. If it be good, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel. WOR. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then: nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessings which God has bestowed upon thee till then.

CHR. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden: but get it off myself I cannot; nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders: therefore I am going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden.

WOR. Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden?

CHR. A man that appeared to me a very great and honourable person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist.

WOR. Beshrew him for his counsel ! There is not a more dangerous and troublesome way in the world than is that unto which he hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find if thou wilt be ruled

understand what it is to be deeply burdened with iniquity; nor has he ever heaved a sigh or groan from the consciousness of sin. Accordingly, by these marks of heartfelt penitence, he now discerns in our Pilgrim the man who had set forth from the City of Destruction.

Hast thou a wife and children?—This question is one of those inquiries suggested by worldly wisdom and carnal policy: earthly things first, and then (if ever) heavenly things. Farm, merchandise, wife, and children,-for one or more of these things "I pray thee have me excused;" as though the having of these could ever constitute a fitting apology for neglecting the pilgrimage of Sion.

The good and pious Archbishop Leighton was once addressed by his married sister, who was troubled about many family cares: "You may serve God very well, who have no family to occupy your thoughts, nor children to call off your attention from religion." The venerable prelate thus replied, in a single text

of Scripture-" And Enoch walked with God, and begat sons and daughters."

WORLDLY-WISEMAN'S question, then, has nothing to do with this great matter. Wife and children were not given to us to keep us from God. Therefore the words of Christ"He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me," Matt. x. 37.

Who bid thee go this way? - WORLDLYWISEMAN by his questions evidently seeks to perplex the Pilgrim, and to dissuade him from his projected plan. He advises CHRISTIAN as soon as possible to get rid of his burden, but utterly repudiates the method suggested by the good counsel of EVANGELIST. He has no sympathy with the Pilgrim, or with the utter hopelessness of his condition, so far as human aid is concerned. Another way, he urges, must be tried; and even brings up the bemired condition of CHRISTIAN from the Slough of Despond, as a manifest proof that